Face-to-face In conversation with Dr. Dipankar Roy President and CEO of International Art Acts and Authors Club Worldwide International Art Acts has touched more than 16,000 people around the world promoting peace through creative interaction online. The Last Poem, reinstates romance in an increasingly materialistic world and reminds us to celebrate the joy of life through poetry and music. We wish to rejuvenate relationships with Tagore's philosophy. T April 2021 n a face to face conversation with , Dr. Dipankar Roy, the President and CEO of I International Art Acts and Authors Club Worldwide, pours his heart out.
Excerpts are here... How would you describe your journey with art in the past twenty years which eventually led you to found International Art Acts?
When I began my career as an artist in 2001, under my mentor Manjit Bawa, I witnessed how art touched people's hearts. In 2004, we had a m a s s i v e I n d o - A m e r i c a n a r t exhibition of close to sixty-five and eighty American and Indian artists, respectively, in my first foray in art. We marched together in a travelling art expo called Multiple Encounters , which was sponsored by the American government and the then-Culture Ministry of India. During my Delhi exhibit in December 2004, which was inaugurated by our then-ambassador of India and my mentor, late LM Singhvi, I received a call from the Red Cross to head the team and provide assistance to the tsunami victims of Sumatra-Andaman. My life changed drastically over the next few years. I had to adopt over 50 orphaned girl children as a result of the tsunami. I'm so grateful to all those who supported my art and came together to build the lives of the orphans in Andaman and I'm glad it has grown to such a degree. What began with a small group of twenty-eight girl children, today it is close to a hundred girl children who are on their way to having their lives touched by my support of art activities. That is how my art has taken the shape of a service to mankind. The pandemic induced such emotional strain that I felt compelled to bear the message of art after the lockdown in 2020. COVID-19 took a toll on us not only physically, but also financially and socially. All around the world, countries were crumbling. We had no idea how to continue in this condition. The pandemic has forced the cancellation of exhibitions and art shows, T April 2021
t h ro w i n g n u m e ro u s a r t i st i c and African countries to provide institutions into distress and them with a positive state of mind immediate financial loss. I wanted to so that they can look forward to a use technology to remind people new future. In 2021, we expect to that the world is still alive. Our goal is deliver a fully self-sustaining youth to reach out to every corner of the squad of International Art Acts. We world to help connect people with are attempting to develop a new era the art that lives not only at the end of education for youths that will of their paintbrushes, but also in l ea d t h e m d ire c t l y their souls. sufficiency, so Does art play a role in dealing with differences and handling conflicts peacefully?
Art brings people together. The reason why artists from different corners of the world have come together is because art has the power to build communities and bridge cultural and racial divides. Art contributes to the world speaking a common language and help form bonds that transcend differences. How is IAA contributing to the betterment of the youth? With the support of our mentoring programmes, we have begun to engage the young hearts in Asian T April 2021 completely equipped to create their future with their own hands. If you had to choose a motto for your organisation, what would it be? When you put humanity ahead of yourself, you will leave your own fo o t p r i nt s t h at w i l l o u t l i ve generations to come.
How is IAA contributing to the welfare of breast cancer victims across the world?
We extended support to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Dallas, TX, USA to raise more than 2 million USD for breast cancer victims worldwide. We declared an open call to all artists, sculptors and painters of the world through our brand ambassadors, Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Gloria Keh, Laorens Rupil, Catherine Marie Colon and many more. Every artist sends a picture of their artworks via e-mail. The deadline for submissions is April to s e l f - 13. These artworks will be auctioned that they are off digitally, with the proceeds going
to the NBCF, in the presence of all What are the upcoming participating artists, IAA members, projects that you're working beneficiary foundation and buyers. on?
After the auction, the artist will be notified of the bidder, the sale There are two developments proceeds, and will be given a on the horizon. One is the certificate of authenticity. Our breast cancer campaign, which logistics staff will pick up the artwork helps victims of the disease all from the artist and deliver it to the over the world. buyer. Each artist will receive a copy received over 600 outputs so of the international catalogue as f a r, w h i c h w e well as a donation certificate. appreciate. Artists around the globe are coming together. There What are the efforts made by artists who are IAA to help artists who have been m a s s i v e i n t e r n a t i o n a l negatively affected by the recognition and I'm sure that pandemic? will draw the attention of the world's art curators. We were all unprepared and unable s e c o n d i s a n to foresee how the monstrous virus Hollywood production which is an would affect us not just physically, a d aptat io n o f but also mentally and financially.
Tagore's novel, The Last Poem We began to communicate with are going to utilise 500 artists who artists from all over the world in are specialists of watercolour and order to extend financial support and provide them with the bare necessities for running their households, while also speaking with various art curators around the world. Fortunately, by the end of 2020, we were able to offer financial aid to many artists who have been enduring increasingly stressful lives due to the lack of exhibitions. Many attempts are Roy Espinosa being made now to introduce their President International Art Acts - Philippines artworks at virtual interactive exhibits. There are constant wash but have interactions with curators and affected because of the advent of artists and IAA does not take any digital painting. commission or service charge in decisions will be co-headed by Roy exchange for the sale proceeds. We Espinosa, a master request artists, in return, to carry Philippines. He is a visual artist and a the message of universal peace cultural and art advocate. He is also through their artwork, when we the founding president have seen a desperate attempt to F i l i p i n a s I n s t i t u t e disrupt the world's social order in advancement of Arts and Culture. the last year. Our mission is to Inc., a non-profit cultural institution pursue the message of world peace that advances the rights and welfare in order to reach people's hearts. of the Filipino artists as well as the We have g r e a t l y from all are senior getting a The a n i m a t e d preservation of the indigenous arts R a b in d ran ath and culture in the Philippines. . We What is it about The Last Poem that appealed to you ?
The Last Poem , reinstates romance in an increasingly materialistic world and reminds us to celebrate the joy of life through poetry and music. We wish to rejuvenate relationships with Tagore's philosophy. What is the universal impact which you feel Tagore has made on you as an artist? Tagore is an institution in his own been negatively right. We were fortunate to have him in our lives as we grew up, The creative whether it was through his music, prose, or poetry. As an artist, his artist from works have had a profound impact on me. Tagore is an artist in every sense of the word, in terms of both of The artistic and universal ideals. Through f o r t h e his works, we want his values to permeate every part of our lives. - Adrija Kundu Courtesy: Dr. Dipankar Roy Global Chairman & President of International Art Acts T April 2021